Get Yourself Noticed with an Award from Microsoft

Microsoft has a lot of partners. Really, a lot. The latest number, if we're remembering this correctly, is upwards of 600,000. That's a crowd.

And it's not easy for partners to separate themselves from that crowd. But Microsoft does offer one outlet for channel players to get their names called on a big stage: the Worldwide Partner Conference 2010 Awards. Microsoft is accepting submissions now for the WPC 2010 gongs, which it'll dole out at this year's conference in Washington, D.C.

These things are actually a big deal, not just because they can get a partner company's name out of relative obscurity, but because Microsoft loves the partners that win these awards. (That's why they win, we suppose.) The point here is that winning a WPC award opens up a golden path to some of the biggest and most important names in Redmond. If you worry about how much access you have to Microsoft folks, this is one way to get in with the in crowd.

Given that this year's WPC will be the first held with the Microsoft Partner Network -- rather than the old Partner Program -- presiding, it's bound to garner plenty of attention and curiosity. So, there might be no year like 2010 to take a shot at winning a WPC trophy. Hey, what have you got to lose but a little bit of time filling out a submission? A little time spent now could pay off big-time later. You have until April 2 to state your case for glory.

Have you won a Microsoft partner award? If so, what has it done for your business? Recount your tale at lpender@rcpmag.com.

Posted by Lee Pender on March 02, 2010 at 11:56 AM